STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS BY MR JOSEPH TEO, DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS ON AGENDA ITEM 134: PROGRAMME BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM 2016-2017 ON SUPPORTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE ADDIS ABABA ACTION AGENDA OF THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT, 30 NOVEMBER 2016
30 November 2016
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Madam Chair,
1 I have the honour to speak on behalf of the 10 Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on agenda item 134: Programme budget for the biennium 2016-2017 on supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development. ASEAN aligns itself with the statement made by the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of Thailand on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
2 I thank Dr David Nabarro, Special Adviser on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, for introducing the report of the Secretary-General on this agenda item. I also extend our appreciation to Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Chairperson of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), for his presentation of the ACABQ report and its recommendations.
Madam Chair,
3 2015 was a watershed year for sustainable development. In 2015, we witnessed the landmark agreement on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We also welcomed the formal establishment of the ASEAN Community, including the adoption of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and its Blueprints. Both documents are broadly aligned in their goals to promote sustainable development.
4 ASEAN strongly supports the UN’s pursuit of sustainable development and the role it envisages for regional organisations to share best practices and discuss shared targets and regional mechanisms. During the 8th ASEAN – UN Summit on 7 September 2016 in Vientiane, Lao PDR, the ASEAN Leaders and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recognised the importance of promoting complementarities between the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and its three Blueprints. The ASEAN Foreign Ministers and the UN Secretary-General further recognised the importance of promoting complementarities in international and regional efforts to achieve sustainable development, in line with the ASEAN-UN Plan of Action, at the ASEAN-UN Ministerial Meeting on 22 September 2016. ASEAN also held a Special Session of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting focusing on Sustainable Development and convened a Special Panel Discussion on Developing Complementarities between the 2030 Agenda and the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 at the sidelines of the 71st UNGA High-Level Week.
Madam Chair,
5 ASEAN appreciates the new report prepared by the Secretary-General to address the effective and efficient delivery of mandates in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. However, we are concerned that the report has yet to adequately address the need to strengthen regional commissions. We are also disappointed that the new report still does not fully respond to the requests made by the General Assembly in its resolutions 70/247 and 70/248 C. Nonetheless, we stand ready to work with the relevant parties to obtain the approval of an appropriate level of resources to deliver on the mandates of the two important Agendas.
6 ASEAN looks forward to consideration of this agenda item at the earliest opportunity and we will follow the Committee’s deliberations on this agenda item with great interest.
7 I thank you, Madam Chair.
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